After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles waited for the Holy Spirit - for the very presence of God to fill them. That raises an important question: what does it look like for us to wait on the Spirit today? In our age of constant distraction, it’s easy to drown out the quiet moments with noise and busyness. Too often, it’s not us waiting on God, but God waiting on us - waiting for us to slow down, to sit still long enough to experience His presence. To rest quietly, long enough to hear the voice of the Spirit. In a world full of distractions, the Holy Spirit is ready to meet us. The real question is: are we ready to meet Him?

Acts 1:1-14

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “you heard from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”

 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. What stuck out to you, and what challenged you in this week’s message?

2. What are the biggest obstacles that get in the way of your spending time with the Holy Spirit in prayer?

3. What can you do this week to create space for prayer?

4. Read Psalm 62:1-8, and then set a timer and sit in silence for 5-10 minutes in the presence of the Holy Spirit in prayer. Write down, or share with your group, anything you heard in your time.

For Families with Kids

1. Read and pray Psalm 62 together.

2. What verse(s) stuck out to you and why?

3. Why can it be hard to wait? Why would God ask us to wait?

4. What can be uncomfortable about being in silence? Why does God ask us to wait in silence?

5. Memorize verses 5-6 as a family. Repeat them often to each other throughout the week.